Chandigarh: Haryana is gearing up for a major transformation of its sports ecosystem, with plans to revamp the state’s Sports Policy, nurture future Olympians through a long-term talent development programme and provide athletes with seamless access to government services through a unified digital platform. These initiatives were presented before Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, during a high-level review meeting held today to assess the state’s progress on action points emerging from the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries.
The meeting reviewed Haryana’s Action Taken Report on decisions taken during the conference held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister in December 2025. The conference, organised around the theme “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat,” had identified sports and extracurricular activities as a key area for strengthening youth development and nation-building. Senior officers from the Sports Department and other concerned departments attended the review meeting.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi emphasised the need for timely implementation of all approved action points and directed departments to maintain close coordination in achieving the objectives outlined under the national roadmap.
Director, Sports, Parth Gupta informed that Haryana has initiated the process of revising its Sports Policy, which was last updated in 2015. A dedicated working group has been constituted to examine the existing framework and suggest reforms aligned with the latest national sports policy and emerging requirements of modern sports administration. The proposed revision is expected to further strengthen athlete welfare, talent development programmes, sports infrastructure and institutional support mechanisms.
He also highlighted the state’s ambitious ‘Mission Olympics-2036 – Vijayee Bhavah, a long-term initiative aimed at identifying talented children in the 8-10 years age group and providing them with systematic training and support to prepare them for future Olympic participation. The programme is proposed to be implemented through the Sports University of Haryana and has already received seed funding approval from the Finance Department.
In a significant step towards athlete-centric governance, officials apprised the Chief Secretary about the development of the Khelo Haryana App, a comprehensive digital platform intended to serve as a one-stop solution for sportspersons. The app will integrate various athlete welfare schemes and services, including scholarships, cash awards, employment benefits, sports gradation certificates, pensions and insurance facilities.
The review also highlighted efforts to strengthen digital governance in sports. Officials informed the meeting that a comprehensive technology-driven system is being planned to track sporting competitions from block level to state level and maintain a real-time inventory of sports infrastructure across Haryana. The proposed platform would facilitate better planning, monitoring and utilisation of sports facilities throughout the state.
The Chief Secretary was informed that Haryana already has a structured framework for identifying and nurturing sporting talent through Sports Nurseries, Residential Academies and Centres of Excellence. This multi-tier system is helping young athletes progress from grassroots participation to advanced training and competitive sports.
Haryana has recorded more than 6.61 lakh registrations on the MY Bharat platform, reflecting strong participation of youth in developmental, educational and community engagement activities. The state has also registered a substantial number of youth clubs, educational institutions and voluntary organisations under the programme, expanding opportunities for youth leadership and participation.
The meeting was also apprised of efforts being undertaken by the Education, Health, AYUSH and Development & Panchayats Departments to promote physical literacy, fitness and wellness among children and youth. Various initiatives, including yoga programmes, fitness activities and physical literacy assessments, are being introduced to encourage healthy lifestyles and improve physical well-being from an early age.
Recognising the growing importance of emerging sectors within the sports economy, Haryana is also promoting e-sports, sports journalism, sports communication and sports management through specialized programmes being offered by the Sports University of Haryana.
Director General, Industries & Commerce, Yash Garg, Additional Director, Sports, Ashwani Malik, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
